Solstheim

Geography and Climate

Solstheim is a floating continent covered in snow and ice for most of the year. Its terrain ranges from frozen tundra plains to jagged mountains and volcanic regions that give rise to active geothermal features like hot springs and calderas. Winters are long and unforgiving, but the northern lights (Aurora Borealis) are a common sight across the night sky. Brief summers melt the top layer of snow, exposing hardy vegetation, and some of the rivers begin to flow again.

Mountain Soltindan:

This tall, snow-capped peak dominates the northern landscape, creating a natural divide that makes travel from the southern city of Jorvik to the lake town of Kärlinn difficult without passing through the valley roads.

The Volcanic Caldera near Brekken:

Though most of Solstheim is cold, Brekken rests in the shadow of an active caldera, where magma flows beneath the ground. This creates warmer soil and rare plant life that only survives in the area around Brekken. Some scholars suspect elemental rifts may exist beneath the volcano.

Hot Springs and Geysers:

Scattered throughout the land—especially near Mydalsa and Kärlinn—are natural hot springs. Some towns have integrated these into their culture and economy as sources of warmth, baths, and even power.

Major Settlements of Solstheim

Jorvik – The Gateway to Solstheim

Population:

~5,000

Demographics:

Humans, dwarves, and a prominent population of snow tabaxi and tieflings.

Features:

Ports, bustling markets, and inns.

Role:

Jorvik is the largest and most cosmopolitan city on Solstheim, serving as the primary entry point for trade with the outside world. Merchants who brave the icy skies bring in imports from southern lands, and in return, Jorvik exports Solstheim’s exotic goods to far-off regions.

Culture:

Jorvik is known for its festivals celebrating winter, which honor the survival of its people through harsh conditions. Frost Mead is brewed here, a popular export made from honey collected from rare arctic bees.

Trade and Commerce

: Jorvik specializes in furs, frost mead, and magically infused ice crystals that maintain their freezing temperatures indefinitely—highly sought after in warmer climates.

Kärlinn – The Town by the Lake

Population:

~2,800

Demographics:

Humans, dwarves, goliaths, and a few tabaxi.

Features:

The lake, fishing docks, and a geothermal plant that powers much of the town.

Role:

Kärlinn is situated along Lake Myrvatn, which rarely freezes thanks to geothermal vents at its bottom. This makes it a fishing town despite Solstheim’s harsh climate, with fish like arctic char and rare crystal trout providing valuable food and trade. Kärlinn is also a stopping point for travelers headed to the remote villages of Brekken and Mydalsa.

Culture:

Kärlinn’s people have a tradition of crafting ice sculptures, which they create on the lake’s surface during the darkest months. These sculptures are sometimes enchanted to glow with magical light, transforming the lake into a brilliant spectacle.

Brekken – Village by the Caldera

Population:

~1,500

Demographics:

Primarily humans and tieflings, with a smaller number of dwarves.

Features:

Blacksmiths, volcanic fields, and hot spring spas.

Role:

Brekken is known for its unique metalwork. Blacksmiths here forge weapons and tools from obsidian and volcanic metals that are uniquely strong and capable of holding enchantments. Due to its proximity to the caldera, the town also exports geothermal energy crystals that provide heat and power.

Culture:

The village honors both fire and ice in their yearly Solstice Festival, reflecting the balance they live with between the caldera’s warmth and the surrounding cold.

Nyvall and Grenivik – Small Towns Along the Way

Population

Nyvall (~800), Grenivik (~650)

Demographics

Mix of humans, goliaths, and snow tabaxi.

Role

These two small towns serve as important waystations for travelers moving between Jorvik and Kärlinn. Nyvall specializes in woodwork using the limited but hardy trees from nearby forests, while Grenivik is known for fur processing and tanning. These two towns rely heavily on trade with the larger cities to survive.

Mydalsa – The Isolated Hamlet

Population

~300

Demographics

Mostly goliaths and humans.

Features

Small hot springs and fishing huts.

Role

Mydalsa is the most isolated settlement, lying northeast of Kärlinn and tucked into the mountains. It is a simple village with little in the way of trade but relies on the hot springs for survival. Few travelers come here, and it is often seen as a place where hermits and outcasts make their homes.

Culture

Mydalsa has an almost spiritual connection to the hot springs, believing that they are sacred remnants of an ancient spirit who once guarded the land.

Creatures of Solstheim

White Dragons & Wyverns:

These creatures dominate the highest peaks and make travel between settlements dangerous. Smaller white wyverns hunt in packs, often attacking airships or caravans.

Yeti:

These massive, ape-like creatures roam the snowy plains and mountains. Though territorial, they are known to leave offerings of food at certain places believed to be sacred sites.

Frost Giants:

Frost giants are rare but dangerous inhabitants of the most remote mountains. Some say they are the remnants of an ancient kingdom that ruled Solstheim long ago.

Frost Wyrms:

Gigantic serpentine creatures that burrow beneath the ice and snow. They are one of the greatest threats on Solstheim, capable of swallowing a mammoth whole.

Mammoths and Sabre-Tooth Tigers:

These creatures roam the tundra, providing valuable furs, tusks, and meat to the inhabitants.

Arctic Foxes and Bears:

Though smaller in size compared to the other beasts, these animals are hunted for fur and meat.

Unique Exports and Resources of Solstheim

Frost Mead:

Made from honey collected by rare arctic bees and fermented with herbs, frost mead stays cold even in warm environments.

Magical Ice Crystals:

Found only deep within the glaciers, these crystals radiate cold energy and never melt. They are prized by mages and artisans for use in enchantments and refrigeration.

Volcanic Metals and Obsidian Weapons:

The blacksmiths of Brekken craft obsidian-bladed weapons and tools using volcanic materials from the nearby caldera. These are often enchanted with fire or frost magic.

Geothermal Energy Crystals:

Extracted from hot springs and the volcanic regions near Brekken, these crystals can store and release heat, making them valuable in colder regions or as power sources.

Crystal Trout:

A rare, luminescent fish found in Lake Myrvatn. Its scales shimmer with a faint glow, making it a prized delicacy and used in luxury alchemical ingredients.

Exotic Furs:

The hides of mammoths, sabre-tooth tigers, and arctic foxes are some of Solstheim’s primary exports, sought after in warmer climates for clothing and decoration.

Maps

• 

  Solstheim

  A frozen continent that orbits the arctic, with only brief times of daylight, or long days with no night.

Cycle: 55 years
Path: A slow polar orbit, tracing a wide spiral around the northern pole.
Alignment Point: Krysuvík, a frozen fishing Breach City.

Type

Continent